Fresh scent a triumph

Picture: Waitrose director of marketing Jo Jackson with Katy Galloway, managing director of Fresh, at the store in Willerby.

Anti-plastic bag crusaders win ticket to national glory

Car freshener idea sniffs victory in Yorkshire and Humber heat

15 June 2012

Young entrepreneurs on a crusade to rid Britain of the curse of plastic bag litter have won a ticket to potential glory in London.

Fresh – a group of sixth form students from Hymers College – won the Yorkshire&Humber stage of the Young Enterprise Company Programme Competition at Sheffield Hallam University.

As she received the prize the firm’s managing director Katy Galloway said the team was: ‘over the moon.

‘Young Enterprise is such an amazing experience, definitely a roller-coaster ride, which we would certainly recommend to all given the opportunity! ‘She thanked a host of advisers and parents ‘for the incredible support throughout this process so far!’

The team will now represent their region in the HSBC Young Enterprise Innovation Awards 2012 in London on July 1-3.

Fresh developed a car fragrance designed to remind shoppers to bring their carrier bags with them rather than using new ones each time they go to the supermarket.

The teenagers have teamed up with Waitrose to take their product to the shop floor.

Their research found more people would reuse carrier bags if they could remember to pack them in the car before they went to the shops.

The product capitalises on the scientifically proven link between smell and memory.

In May, the innovative idea saw the group crowned sub-regional champions for the Humber Young Enterprise competition, which took place in Bridlington.

There, the team also won awards for Environmental Awareness, Objective Setting, Planning and Reviewing, and best Hull school or College Company.

The team has been on the shop floor of Waitrose in Willerby to meet customers and hand out their products as part of their campaign to change peoples’ shopping habits.

Jo Jackson, director of marketing at Waitrose, said: “We are very impressed with the dedication and professionalism shown by the team.

“We were happy to invest time and money to help them make their business a reality, and to help us with the recycling of carrier bags”.

Picture: Waitrose director of marketing Jo Jackson with Katy Galloway, managing director of Fresh, at the store in Willerby. Left, the Fresh team celebrating their award at Bridlington Spa.